Best wishes to all for the New Year. Here are some dates for your diary.
Coffee Mornings 10.30 am to 12.00 noon
Friday May 1st
Friday July 17th
Friday September 25th
Curry Evening
Saturday October 3rd
7.00 pm to 11pm
Christmas Social Evening
Friday December 18th
7.00 pm to 10.30 pm
Diana has been a resident of Ridlington all her life. Her father Stan was born in Preston, and her mother, Mary was born in Clay Cross, near Chesterfield. They made their home in Ridlington over 75 years ago. She adored Ridlington and loved the wide-open spaces that we walked often with our dogs over the years.
Diana lived life with colour, warmth, and a smile that could light up any room. She loved deeply, laughed easily, and gave generously — always finding joy in making others happy.
She shared nearly 54 years with her beloved husband Martin, including 44 years of marriage, and was a devoted and fiercely protective mother to her son, Daniel, and a loving mother-in-law to Claire. Family was at the heart of everything she did.
Diana had a gift for creating beauty — in her home, her garden, and in the lives of those around her. Our home was her castle: bright, welcoming, and uniquely hers, filled with colour, creativity, and happy memories. She loved nature, windy days, long walks, and sunshine-filled holidays — especially by the ocean in Tenerife and around the Amalfi Coast, in Italy.
She brought friendship wherever she went, through her kindness, her warmth, and her infectious love of life. Above all, Diana reminded us that happiness is something you build — with love, generosity, and a joyful heart.
Sadly missed but never forgotten.
“Diana, my love — I was blessed the day I met you, and I discovered just how special you were by spending a lifetime with you. You are, and always will be, the most important person in my life.”
More gentle fundraising for the church – donate your old books, borrow or buy those on offer. We regularly refresh the stock so worth popping into the church from time to time to see what is available especially as 2026 is the National Year of Reading.
A New Year’s resolution, perhaps?
Recommended this month – Jon Savage’s “Time Travel”, a collection of articles from this key writer on pop music and culture from the period 1977 to 1996. It is interesting to be reminded not only of popular music trends but their impact on culture or is it the other way round?
Two detective novels this month – “A Fatal Crossing” from Tom Hindle set on board a liner in 1924 with a great twist at the end (will be looking out for more written by him)
and, as seen on TV, “The Marlow Murder Club” by Robert Thorogood, the creator of Death in Paradise.
Happy New Year to Everyone.
Please see poster below for more information about our January 10th Pop Up Shop, open from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
We will have fresh venison. If you have any specific requirements, please do give me a call or text and I will put it aside for you. We will also have frozen partridge crowns and breasts. As always a selection of frozen beef and lamb.
I am planning to make Venison Sausage and also a Lincolnshire Pork Sausage, and of course we will have fresh bacon, just in case you fancy bacon and sausage for breakfast on Sunday.
I am hoping to bake sourdough too, so a busy week coming up for me!
As always, if you are unable to come on Saturday just give me a call and we can arrange a time for you to come and browse or buy.
Orders welcome for Saturday if there is a specific amount or cut you require.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Sue Scott
Scott & Scott (Ayston) Ltd
Home Farm, Preston Lane, Ayston, Oakham. LE15 9BL
Tel: 07803 000 465
A huge thank you to everyone who donated so generously in 2025.
Your kindness makes a difference to so many families. We’ll continue to collect items in the church porch.
The 2026 collection dates and a list of most needed items will be displayed there and on the village notice board.
A BIG THANK YOU to those involved in our Christmas celebrations, who planned services; cleaned and decorated the church; provided flowers and greenery; rang the bells; read, sang and played; provided refreshments; and joined in our worship.
Thanks also to those who have volunteered to be on rotas in 2026 – we couldn’t function without you!
Back by popular demand! Join us in the village hall on Saturday, 10th January between 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm for a choice of three soups (red, amber and green), bread and cheese scones. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 for church funds.
We hope to arrange a social event/fundraiser for the Church on the second Saturday of each month in the hope that the monies raised will cover the insurance premium for the year. Please do support these events.
What a lovely selection of cards and greetings adorned the Church porch. Thank you to everyone who gave a card and donation.
A grand total of £160 was raised with the village Christmas card scheme to be shared between the three village charities – Church, Playing Field and Village Hall.
Debra
